As people in powerful places continue to attempt to create a monolithic school system that only teaches wealthy white culture, it becomes increasingly important that we try to include social justice and diverse perspectives in every part of our educational evolution.

I learned geometry sitting in a classroom copying down the Pythagorean Theorem. Jackson, a high school student in Vermont, learned geometry by plotting angles over acres of land and drawing blueprints for areas in his hometown.

The Holmes School has fared poorly in past years on the state’s standardized test. However, this assessment is based on a single measure which is most closely correlated with parental income and race. What is going on inside the school is exciting. While most schools experiencing these results might double down on test prep in English language arts and math, the Holmes has chosen a different, radical route.

Accurately measuring the various dimensions of school quality can help education systems improve student and teacher experiences and help stakeholders better understand the elements of school performance. Surveys show that MCIEA's School Quality Measures are making in strides in gauging student and school success in authentic ways.

In most of the United States, 21st century skills are not new. However, implementation – bringing the plan to the classroom and the students – has been a challenge. That's where calibration comes in.Teachers engage in a structured conversation, coming to agreement about what evidence of proficiency can be found in student work.